Plastic container with lockable dispensing closure

ABSTRACT

A plastic container having flexible sidewalls adapted for dispensing fluid materials. The container neck portion is provided with two annular recessed grooves which are adapted to receive an annular locking ring provided on the interior wall of the skirt of the closure cap. A dispenser plug has its cylindrical base received between the annular grooves on the interior of the neck of the container. The neck of the container has a top flexible wall portion with an integral, upwardly extending, reduced neck section which receives the outer end of an integral boss extending from the base of the plug to close the neck opening. The cap is provided with a central opening surrounding the reduced neck portion, and, when the locking ring is in the lower annular groove, it exerts external pressure on the flexible top wall to prevent expulsion of the product from the container. When the cap is moved into the dispensing position, i.e., with the locking ring in the second or upper groove, application of pressure to the sidewalls of the container exerts internal pressure on the flexible top wall of the container moving it out of sealing engagement with the upper end of the dispenser plug, thus forcing the contents out of the small diameter neck opening in an annular stream around the upper end of the dispenser plug.

nited States Patent [1 1 aiele Dec. 11, 1973 PLASTIC CONTAINER WITH LOCKABLE DISPENSING CLOSURE [75] Inventor:' Robert X. Hafele, Overland Park,

Kans.

[73] Assignee: Ethyl Development Corporation,

Kansas City, Mo.

22 Filed: May 24,1972 211' Appl. No.: 256,458

[52] US. Cl. 222/497 [51] Int. Cl B65d 25/44 [58] Field of Search 222/92, 212, 213,

222/490, 492-497, 530, 105, 514; l37/614.02, 614.03, 614.05, 614.06; 25l/l49.1,149.8, 149.9

Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, Jr. Att0rney-Donald L. Johnson et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A plastic container having flexible sidewalls adapted for dispensing fluid materials. The container neck portion is provided with two annular recessed grooves which are adapted to receive an annular locking ring provided on the interior wall of the skirt of the closure cap. A dispenser plug has its cylindrical base received between the annular grooves on the interior of the neck of the container. The neck of the container has a top flexible wall portion with an integral, upwardly extending, reduced neck section which receives the outer end of an integral boss extending from the base of the plug to close the neck opening. The cap is provided with a central opening surrounding the reduced neck portion, and, when the locking ring is in the lower annular groove, it exerts external pressure on the flexible top wall to prevent expulsion of the product from the container. When the cap is moved into the dispensing position, i.e., with the locking ring in the second or upper groove, application of pressure to the sidewalls of the container exerts internal pressure on the flexible top wall of the container moving it out of sealing engagement with the upper end of the dispenser plug, thus forcing the contents out of the small diameter neck opening in an annular stream around the upper end of the dispenser plug.

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PLASTIC CONTAINER WITH LOCKABLE DISPENSING CLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a flexible wall plastic container for dispensing fluid materials.

2. Description of the Prior Art Flexible wall plastic containers, i.e., squeezable plastic tubes, have been in common use for some time for dispensing fluid materials such as hand lotions, shampoos, cosmetics, etc. Most containers of this type utilize a screw cap closure to seal the contents when not being used. Inconvenience attendant in unscrewing and replacing the cap on squeezable containers has prompted the development of a number of different types of closures wherein the product may be dispensed Without the necessity of removing and replacing a screw-type cap. These developments have primarily involved the attempt to place in the dispensing tube some type of spring-loaded or movable plug which will permit the product to be extruded therefrom and will automatically r'eseal without the necessity of replacing a screw cap on the container. Examples of prior art containers providing self-closing or easily closable dispensing fitments are shown in the following patents: U. S. Pat. No. 2,696,337; U. S. Pat. No. 2,550,356; U.S. Pat. No. 1,945,872; Swiss Pat. No. 406,966; Canadian Pat. No. 625,196; and Italian Pat. No. 493,228. However, containers of the type exemplified by the foregoing patents have not found ready acceptance in the marketplace in the United States.

Therefore, there is a need in the packaging art to provide a flexible wall, squeeze-tube-type container wherein the product may be readily dispensed therefrom without the necessity of using a separate screwtype cap for closure of the container opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible wall dispensing container particularly adapted for dispensing viscous fluid materials.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a flexible wall dispensing container having a dispensing closure assembly which need not be removed from the container.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flexible wall plastic dispensing container having a closure assembly which can be locked into position to prevent egress of the product.

It is also another object of the present invention to provide a flexible wall dispensing container which requires a minimum number of simple components to provide the closure means therefor.

It is also a further object of the present invention to provide a flexible wall dispensing container having a closure assembly which automatically closes and reseals the container upon release of the pressure exerted for dispensing.

The foregoing and other objects are provided in a flexible wall, plastic, fluid-dispensing container which includes a plastic squeeze tube having a generally cylindrical neck portion which has a reduced diameter outer end with an axial opening therein. A dispensing plug is frictionally received in the neck portion, the plug having a generally cylindrical base portion providing at least one opening therein, and having a central, upwtanding boss attached to the base portion, the upper end of the boss being received in the opening in the outer end of the neck portion. The closure cap is received on the container, which cap has a top wall and a depending, cylindrical skirt adapted to snap over the neck portion of the tube to make a sliding frictional fit therewith. The cap top wall is provided with a central opening therein which slidably receives the outer end of the neck portion of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view ofa flexible wall plastic container embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a broken, elevational view of the container of FIG. 1 showing the cap in the unlocked position;

FIG. 3 is a broken, enlarged, partially sectional view of the lower end of the container shown in FIG. I with the cap in the locked position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the cap in the unlocked or dispensing position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the position of the components of the container when pressure is applied to the sidewalls to dispense the product;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the dispenser plug portion of the container of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a right-hand elevational view of the dispenser plug shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the dispenser plug of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, the dispensing container of the present invention includes a plastic, flexible-wall, squeeze-type tube designated generally by the numeral 10. The container is preferably made from a plastic material having sufficient flexibility so that the walls may be readily compressed by hand. Suitable materials for forming the container of the present invention include low or medium density polyethylene, polypropylene, plasticized polyvinyl chloride and copolymers of polyvinyl chloride, flexible compositions of polystyrene nylon, and other suitable thermoplastic materials which can be readily formed by injection or blow molding.

As seen in FIGS. 3-5 in particular, one end of the squeeze tube 10 is provided with a neck portion designated generally by the numeral 11. The neck portion 11 of the tube can be conveniently integrally formed -with the walls or body of the tube 10 by injection molding or by blow molding. The lower wall section 12 of the neck portion of the tube is provided with two integrally formed, outwardly facing, spaced apart, annular grooves 13 and 14. The inwardly projecting annular rings formed in wall section 12 define therebetween an inwardly facing annular groove 15. An integrally formed dispenser plug, designated generally by the numeral 16, has its cylindrical base 17 received in the inner groove 15 in the intermediate wall section of the neck.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-8, the dispenser plug 16 has attached to its base section 17 an integrally formed, upstanding boss 18 which has an enlarged outer end 19. The outer end of the boss 19 is provided with an inwardly tapering sidewall section 20. A pair of generally triangularly shaped, opposed reinforcing webs 21-21 are integrally formed with the base and the boss to provide rigidity and support for the boss. The base 17 of the boss is provided with two generally U-shaped slots or recesses 2222 which are located approximately 90 degrees from the webs 21-21.

Referring again to FIGS. 3-5, the neck portion 11 of the tube is provided with an integrally formed, generally planar, annular top wall intermediate portion 23. Integrally formed with and extending outwardly from the intermediate wall 23 of the neck is a reduced diameter, cylindrical top section 24 of the neck. The cylindrical top section 24 of the neck provides a generally cylindrical opening 25 through which the product is dispensed from the container. The inner wall of the top section 24 of the neck is provided with an inwardly inclined surface 26 adjacent'its upper end, as can be more clearly seen in FIG. 5. This tapered surface 26 has the same taper as does the tapered sidewall of the outer end of the boss whereby the walls make a sealing engagement to seal the outer end of the opening of the dispensing tube when the cap is in the locked position, e.g., that shown in FIG. 3, or in the dispensing position, but with no pressure applied to the sidewalls of the container, as shown in FIG. 4.

The cap, designated generally by the numeral 28, is received over the neck portion 11 of the squeeze tube 10. The cap includes a generally cylindrical base 28 which has a generally concave lower surface 29. An integrally formed, annular skirt 30 extends upwardly from the upper surface of the base 27. The inner wall of the upper end of the skirt 30 is provided with an annular ring or projection 31 which is adapted to be received in grooves 13 and 14 depending upon the position of the cap on the squeeze tube 10. Base 28 of the cap is provided with a central opening 32 which slidingly receives the top cylindrical section 24 of the neck.

Both the dispenser plug 16 and the cap 27 can be readily formed by injection molding rigid or semi-rigid thermoplastic materials, such as high density polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS, polycarbonate and other suitable thermoplastics. If desired, these components may be formed from thermoset plastics such as ureaformaldehyde resins, epoxy resins or other suitable thermosets.

The squeeze tube container of the present invention, as mentioned hereinbefore, can be formed either by injection molding wherein the lower end of the tube opposite the neck end will be open, or it can be formed by blow molding the tube wherein the end opposite the neck section is severed therefrom for filling the tube. Preformed injection molded plug 16 is then placed in the open end of the tube opposite the neck section and pushed by either manual force or machine into the neck section of the tube and snapped into the groove 15 provided therein. Next, the cap 27 is placed manually or by machine over the neck 11 of the container and pressure is applied thereto to force the cap into the position shown in FIG. 3, i.e., with the annular ring 31 received in the lower groove 13 whereby the base portion of the cap 28 makes contact with the planar wall 23 of the neck portion. The container is then filled with the product, e.g., shampoo, cosmetics, etc., and then the open end of the container is sealed by conventional heat sealing technique to provide the seal tab 33 at the lower end of the container (see FIG. 1). When the cap 27 is in the locked or shipping position shown in FIG. 3. Le, with the annular ring 31 received in groove 13, the outer end of the boss 19 has its tapered surface 20 in sealing engagement with the matching tapered surface 26 on cylindrical neck portion 24. Thus, the container is safely sealed for packaging, shipment and ultimate delivery to the customer. To withdraw the contents from the container, it is only necessary to grip the tube in one hand while pulling the cap 27 downwardly to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 with the other hand. In this position, the ring 31 on the cap is positioned in the second or lower groove 14 on the neck 11, causing the wall 28 of the cap to move outwardly from the annular flexible wall 23 of the neck portion of the dispenser tube to a position approximately parallel to the upper surface of the end of the outer portion 24 of the neck. The user then applies pressure to the tube 10 as shown in the arrows in FIG. 5 while holding the tube in the inverted or inclined position, thus forcing the product through the U-shaped slot 22 in the dispenser plug 16 outwardly around the boss 18 and against the underside of the flexible annular intermediate section 23 of the neck. The pressure of the product against the flexible section 23 of the neck causes the extension of the intermediate neck section 23 to the position shown in FIG. 5, i.e., the top cylindrical section 24 of the neck is projected upwardly through the opening 32 in the cap. Additionally, the top section of the neck moves outwardly from the outer end 19 of the boss providing an annulus for the expression of the product through the opening 26. When pressure is relieved on the container 10, flexible wall 23 pulls the top cylindrical section 24 of the neck back down into firm contact with the upper end 19 of the boss thereby sealing the opening in the container and preventing dripping or drying of the product in the container.

As shown in the drawings, the container has a base 28 of the cap which is larger than the diameter of the squeeze tube thereby providing a convenient base for resting the container when it is not in use.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the squeeze tube of the present invention provides a low-cost, economical package for dispensing fluid products. The simplicity of the construction of the container and its low cost of manufacture render it eminently suitable for mass production by conventional plastic forming such as injection or blow molding. The device possesses the advantages that it does not require removal of a sealing cap or the complexity of spring-loaded valves or other devices heretofore used in self-sealing dispensing containers. Thus, the device may be used for other than personal products which may be harmful to metal caps, metal springs and metal seal valves such as adhesives or soldering flux or other types of corrosive materials.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the essence of the invention. It is intended to cover herein all such modifications and changes as come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flexible-wall, plastic, fluid-dispensing container, the combination comprising:

a. a plastic squeeze tube having a generally cylindrical neck portion which is sufficiently flexible to permit dispensing, said neck portion having a reduced diameter upper section with an axial opening therein, and a lower section having a first annular groove adjacent said upper section and a spaced apart second annular groove below said first annular groove, said upper end of said neck portion being joined to said lower section by an inwardly converging, flexible connecting wall;

b. a dispensing plug having a generally cylindrical base portion frictionally fixed in said neck portion between said first and second annular grooves, said base portion providing at least one opening therein, and a central, upstanding boss attached to said base portion, said boss having an upper end adapted to be sealingly received in the outer end of said axial opening; and

c. a closure cap received on said neck portion, said cap having a top wall providing an axial opening therein freely receiving said reduced diameter upper section, and an integral, depending cylindrical skirt which is provided with an annular ring on the lower portion of its inner wall, said ring being received in said first annular groove when said cap is in the open position to permit dispensing of the contents of the container through the space provided between said upper end of said boss and the inner wall of said reduced diameter upper section of said neck portion, and said ring being received in said second groove when said cap is in the closed position wherein said cap top wall contacts and deflects said connecting wall to cause sealing engagement to be made between said upper end of said boss and the inner wall of said reduced diameter upper section of said neck portion adjacent its outer end.

2. In the container of claim 1 wherein said top wall of said closure cap has a diameter substantially equal to or greater than the diameter of said container pering, interior sidewall which is sealingly engaged by i said upper end of said boss when said cap is in the closed position and the inside diameter of said axial opening in said reduced diameter upper section of said neck portion below said tapered sidewall section being greater than the diameter of said boss to permit flow of the contents of said container when said cap is in the open position and pressure is applied to said flexible wall of said container.

5. In the container of claim 4 wherein said boss is provided with an intermediate section having a smaller diameter than said upper end of said boss.

6. In the container of claim 1 wherein said dispensing plug base portion has one or more U-shaped openings extending from the outer edge of said base portion radially inward.

7. In the container of claim 6 wherein said dispensing plug base portion has two U-shaped openings.

8. In the container of claim 6 wherein said upstanding boss is rigidly stabilized by triangularly shaped supports having one side integral with said upstanding boss and another side integral with said base portion. 

1. In a flexible-wall, plastic, fluid-dispensing container, the combination comprising: a. a plastic squeeze tube having a generally cylindrical neck portion which is sufficiently flexible to permit dispensing, said neck portion having a reduced diameter upper section with an axial opening therein, and a lower section having a first annular groove adjacent said upper section and a spaced apart second annular groove below said first annular groove, said upper end of said neck portion being joined to said lower section by an inwardly converging, flexible connecting wall; b. a dispensing plug having a generally cylindrical base portion frictionally fixed in said neck portion between said first and second annular grooves, said base portion providing at least one opening therein, and a central, upstanding boss attached to said base portioN, said boss having an upper end adapted to be sealingly received in the outer end of said axial opening; and c. a closure cap received on said neck portion, said cap having a top wall providing an axial opening therein freely receiving said reduced diameter upper section, and an integral, depending cylindrical skirt which is provided with an annular ring on the lower portion of its inner wall, said ring being received in said first annular groove when said cap is in the open position to permit dispensing of the contents of the container through the space provided between said upper end of said boss and the inner wall of said reduced diameter upper section of said neck portion, and said ring being received in said second groove when said cap is in the closed position wherein said cap top wall contacts and deflects said connecting wall to cause sealing engagement to be made between said upper end of said boss and the inner wall of said reduced diameter upper section of said neck portion adjacent its outer end.
 2. In the container of claim 1 wherein said top wall of said closure cap has a diameter substantially equal to or greater than the diameter of said container whereby said cap serves as a base for supporting said container in the inverted position.
 3. In the container of claim 1 wherein said top wall is concave.
 4. In the container of claim 1 wherein said dispensing plug is provided with more than one opening in its base portion and said outer end of said axial opening of said reduced diameter neck portion having an inwardly tapering, interior sidewall which is sealingly engaged by said upper end of said boss when said cap is in the closed position and the inside diameter of said axial opening in said reduced diameter upper section of said neck portion below said tapered sidewall section being greater than the diameter of said boss to permit flow of the contents of said container when said cap is in the open position and pressure is applied to said flexible wall of said container.
 5. In the container of claim 4 wherein said boss is provided with an intermediate section having a smaller diameter than said upper end of said boss.
 6. In the container of claim 1 wherein said dispensing plug base portion has one or more U-shaped openings extending from the outer edge of said base portion radially inward.
 7. In the container of claim 6 wherein said dispensing plug base portion has two U-shaped openings.
 8. In the container of claim 6 wherein said upstanding boss is rigidly stabilized by triangularly shaped supports having one side integral with said upstanding boss and another side integral with said base portion. 